Women over the age of 65 can now expect to spend the last three years of their lives in a care home, or receiving help several times daily, the research shows. Two decades ago, they could expect to spend the last 18 months of their lives in need of such help.

And the average man will receive such care for the last two and a half years of his life - when 20 years earlier, they could expect to spend just over a year in need of such assistance.

Sir Andrew Dilnot, who led a report on reform of elderly care, last night said the research showed an urgent need for a substantial investment in services, with too many pensioners were left living in fear that the costs would overwhelm them.

The research led by Newcastle University said almost 190,000 new care home places will be needed by 2035 to accommodate soaring demand.

The study found that gains in life expectancy mean people are spending longer living with higher levels of frailty.

Researchers compared data from two studies, each with more than 7,500 participants aged 65 and older from Cambridgeshire, Newcastle and Nottingham, which were conducted in 1991 and 2011.

Professor Carol Jagger, lead author from Newcastle University, said: "Our study suggests that older people today are spending more of their remaining life with care needs.

"This finding, along with the increasing number of older adults with higher rates of illness and disability, is contributing to the current social care crisis."

High staff turnover mean many don't get to know the residentsCredit:
John Stillwell/PA

A Department of Health spokesman said: "High quality care isn't just about care home beds - 61 per cent of people are cared for in their own home and since 2010 there has been a growth in home care agencies of more than 2,900.

"We've given local authorities in England an extra £2 billion boost over the next three years to maintain access for our growing ageing population and to put the social caresector on a sustainable footing for the future."